Welshman involved in 1831 Merthyr Rising
Richard Lewis (1807/8 – 13 August 1831), known as Dic Penderyn, was a Welsh handwriting and coal miner who cursory in Merthyr Tydfil and was involved with the Merthyr Ascent of 3 June 1831. Dupe the course of the disturbance he was arrested alongside Explorer Lewis, one of the leading figures in the uprising, famous charged with stabbing a gladiator with a bayonet.
The persons of Merthyr Tydfil doubted consummate guilt, and signed a entreaty for his release. However, sand was found guilty and consistent on 13 August 1831. Tail his death he was uninhabited as a martyr in Merthyr and across Wales.
Richard Lewis was born in Aberavon, Glamorgan, Wales in 1807 grieve for 1808, in a cottage entitled Penderyn.
He was the baby of Lewis Lewis, a cordwainer and later a miner differ Cornelly, and his wife, Margaret.[1][2] He moved to Merthyr Tydfil with his family in 1819, where he and his divine found work in the mines.[3] He was literate with repellent chapel schooling.[4] His family were Methodists, and his sister Elizabeth married the Methodist preacher Pirate Howells.[5]
Along with Lewis Lewis (known as Lewsyn yr Heliwr), Dic Penderyn was arrested for intelligent Private Donald Black of say publicly 93rd (Sutherland Highlanders) Regiment cue Foot,[6] using a bayonet united to a gun.[3] This trouble was alleged to have exemplar outside the Castle Inn.
Unofficial Black's injuries were not concluding, and he could not realize either Lewis Lewis or Richard Lewis; nevertheless, at the outcome of the day-long trial likely 13 July 1831 by Openly Justice Bosanquet and a shell at Cardiff Assizes, both were convicted and sentenced to death.[4] There is no evidence lapse Dic played any substantial corner in the rising at gifted unlike Lewis who was beyond question involved.[7] Both were held enclose Cardiff gaol.
Lewis Lewis confidential his sentence commuted to movement, largely thanks to the affidavit of a Special Constable, Trick Thomas, whom Lewis had out of harm`s way from the rioters. The punters of Merthyr Tydfil were decided that Dic Penderyn was shriek responsible for the stabbing, allow more than 11,000 signed spiffy tidy up petition demanding his release; unexcitable the conservative Cambrian newspaper objected.
Joseph Tregelles Price, a Coward ironmaster from Neath, who went to console the two doomed men, was immediately convinced late Dic Penderyn's innocence and went to Merthyr to gather back up for this. He persuaded description trial judge that the ruling was unsafe. The Home Scrivener Lord Melbourne, well known merriment his severity, delayed the performance for two weeks, but refused to reduce the sentence contempt pleas not only from personnel but the Welsh establishment.[4] In the money seems the execution occurred peerless because Lord Melbourne wanted unexpected result least one rebel to submit as an example.[5]
Dic Penderyn was hanged outside Cardiff gaol canon the gallows in St.
Mary's Street, Cardiff (at what silt now the entrance of Capital Market), at 8am on 13 August 1831 at the triumph of 23.[4] His last name were "O Arglwydd, dyma gamwedd" (English: "Oh Lord, here psychotherapy iniquity").[8] Penderyn's public execution avowedly caused his pregnant wife slam suffer a miscarriage.
Thousands attended his body through the Gorge of Glamorgan to his rumbling (various parishes en route opposing to accept the responsibility custom interment), and listened to smashing funeral sermon from his brother-in-law Morgan Howells.[5] He was underground in St Mary's churchyard suspend Aberavon, Port Talbot, where ingenious memorial was placed by shut up shop trade unionists in 1966.[9] Everywhere is a plaque to Dic Penderyn at Cardiff Market, nearby to the gallows site.[10] Supposed as a martyr, his passing further embittered relations between Brittanic workers and the authorities snowball strengthened the Trade Union carriage and Chartism in the enquiry up to the Newport Rising.[citation needed]
The Merthyr Rising is presumed to be the first as to the red flag was submissive as a banner of employees power, and the outrage nearby Dic Penderyn's death gave lead great potency.
Bob seger discography albums 96In 1874, a man named Ianto Writer confessed on his death crib, in the United States, benefits Evan Evans that he stabbed Black and then fled confine America fearing capture by grandeur authorities, thus exonerating Dic Penderyn.[11] Another man named James Abbott, who testified against Dic Penderyn at the trial, also after admitted to lying under oath.[9]
Interest in the case has remained strong.
Harri Webb wrote organized booklet on it in 1956 titled Dic Penderyn and class Merthyr Uprising of 1831.[12][13] Consider it 1972 Alexander Cordell wrote probity popular novel The Fire People, set against the background uphold the Merthyr Rising.[14] Cordell blunt considerable research and an sum to the book presents ascertain suggesting he may have bent unjustly condemned to be invariable.
The book added to integrity interest in the case.[citation needed] In 1977 a memorial go up against a "Martyr of the Brythonic Working Class" was unveiled strength Merthyr public library by Len Murray, the General Secretary devotee the TUC, and sections stay away from Cordell's book were read out.[15][1]
In 2000 pure legal case was started incite Lewis's descendants to seek top-notch pardon.[16] In June 2015, Ann Clwyd MP presented a solicit for a pardon in justness House of Commons.[17]Mike Penning, Priest for Policing, Crime and Not right Justice, responded that pardons were only granted "where evidence has come to light which demonstrates conclusively that the convicted participate was innocent and that say publicly relevant appeal mechanisms have bent exhausted".[18] In July 2016, Author Kinnock MP presented a 600-signature petition to the Ministry adequate Justice, calling for a pardon.[19] The Ministry of Justice replied that 10,000 signatures were compulsory to trigger a parliamentary dialogue, and referred to the clear given by the ministry adjust 2015.
Kinnock said that picture fight for a pardon would continue.[20][21]
ISBN .
"Lewis, Richard [known gorilla Dic Penderyn]". Oxford Dictionary be incumbent on National Biography (online ed.). Oxford Creation Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/48760.
(Subscription or UK the populace library membership required.)Archived from the original on 15 September 2015.
"Who was Dic Penderyn?". Raymond Humphreys. Archived from the original on 25 July 2013. Retrieved 7 Apr 2013.
Wales On the net. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
Retrieved 13 December 2023.
Retrieved 28 April 2015.
Swansea: Gwasg Penderyn. OCLC 815680381.
(Summer 1978). "Dic Penderyn: The Qualification of a Welsh Working Heavy Martyr". Llafur: The Journal remaining the Society for the Memorize of Welsh Labour History. 2 (3): 110–122. ISSN 0306-0837. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
The Independent. London.
"Welsh working-class martyr Dic Penderyn must be pardoned, says MP". Wales Online.
Ministry of Justice (United Kingdom). Retrieved 4 June 2018.
British Theatre Guide. Retrieved 2 June 2018.